TRU Law students competing in this year’s Internal Moot Competition tackled a Mr. Big operation and abuse of process. The competition, held earlier this year, was hosted by the TRU Oral Advocacy Club, which provides students with the opportunity to improve and hone their oral advocacy skills in preparation for legal practice.

Teams given a fact pattern for which they have to conduct research and prepare written submissions. This year’s fact pattern dealt with a Mr. Big operation and abuse of process. Teams of two were randomly assigned the role of either Crown counsel or accused and prepared research accordingly. They were given 30 minutes to provide oral submissions to the court, competing in two rounds. Judges sitting on the TRU Supreme Court bench included Kamloops Crown counsel, local litigators, and Provincial Court judges.

Students received feedback from the judges and were scored individually and as a team. The results are as follows:

• First: Emma Payne (3L) and Erin Pillipow (3L)
• Second: Dennis Tarasenko (1L) and Lucas O’Fee (1L)
• Third: Carson Puetz (1L) and Luke Conkin (1L)
• Fourth: Ashley Desautels (1L) and Larissa DeWolff (1L)